The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-01-01
THE SWEEPERS.
A NEW YEARS STORY WHICH DESCRIBES
HOW 1T WILL BE

A NEW YEARS STORY WHICH DESCRIBES
HOW 1T WILL. BE
Tho evening was clear and cold, the stars
smiled down upon earth so fondly that when
l looked from my window late in the night
lonGed to go out under them, and let their
benign spell charm away the fret and fever
of the day. / went cut and walked slowly
OH and on, feeling the restful influence of the
silence and the beauty of the night A cres-
cent moon glittered in the sky, the myriads
of stars bl1zed in unwonted glory, and the
earth slept under a white blanket Of snow.
AS I walked farther and farther in the cold.
white silence, the everyday world, with its
worry and vcxation, fell away from me.
The people of the village slept Their
houses were locked and lightless; the earth
itself slept. / only seemed to be awake. But
no; another was abroad as well rs myself.
Not a meditative soul, evidently, for he came
toward me whistling and singing CHEEKY
songs. He had no vexations to DO charmed
away in the silence of the night, that was
certain There was q confident ring in his
step as he ground his heel into the hard beaten
snow of the highway, und there was assertion
in the notes he whIs.led and sang.
AS he came in sight saw that he was an
exceedingly spruce youth, with a finely de
veloped figure, and, as near as l could see in
tho white light of tho stars and the snow, n
beamins face. He was clad in velvet and
fur, dressed with foppish care and nicely,
and he carric'l a brand new broom
Good evening"" l said. as we We're about
TO pass each other on the narrow rood
@Evcning.7 he sail, interrogatively. Il
never knew any such thing. belong to tho
morning"
HAS the boy been drinkingi" thought I. A
second look convinced me that he had not.
lie stuck tho handle of his broom firmly into
the snow Us he stopped and spoke. l made
up my niintl that he was n youth trimming
over with life and health and superfluous
energy That he was vain any one could see
from his walk, his speech and manner. l
wanted to prolong the conversation, and for
want of a better subject l mentioned the
beauty and ncwness of the broom.
That pleased him Ho smiled approvingly,
hook the broom triumphantly and said:
Yes, it's = snIeu,iid broom, and it's well that
it il, for 1 have n big contract of sweeping or
hand, and am just on my way to begin"
"Yoas" look 1T him incresiulously. Was
the 10y merry lrnaiic? Going to do job OF
sweeping, clad i'll velvet and fur. Have YOU
ever swept any in your life." l asked.
",yo; hut have studied sweeping, studied
il in books"
All, AMI what are You going to sweep
may asl:'
why I'm going to sweep the GARTH" he
sail confidently, as he fourished the broom
above his head, and then scratched around
with it u moment in the snow, merely t.
show his expcrtnc>Si as a sweeper.
That's large contract for n theore:ica
sweeper" answered; Il am curious to know
something abo;.t you"
Don't recognizes me, eh. WeIl how coulG
YOU, since / am not yet BORN" And b.
launched aloud.
BY this time 1 was convinced that had
met jolly and extremely original lunatic,
As lie seemed harmless as well as nirthful,
tliIl.l's mind hearing him talk q little. -Whai
particular style of dirt do you intend Il
sweep OF the carth?" asked.
"E-crything offensive and harmful, he re
Piled, in a most positive voice. IAN corrup
ton, oppression, dishonesty In high places
/ and degradation in all places Yes, and dis
case, that, too, must 60. And poverty also
Every thing that is hateful and makes thu
heart bitter shall be swept away."